Bench Morticer

[Hemsby]

Hi,

I would appreciate advice or comments on the Rutlands Bench Morticer with Sliding Table Part No. DK2096 £189.95

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworkin ... ble+dk2096

I would only be using it on softwoods.

Thanks,

Regards
Keith

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a cheap Rexon morticer - I suspect they are very much as good as the chisels. If you are prepared to spend a while sharpening the bits and polishing the chisels the performance is fine.

 

[carlb40]

It looks very similar to the axi one
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... h-morticer

Some allow for a different bush fitment so you can use the better quality chisels rather than just the cheaper 3/4'' ones.

 

[Hemsby]

It looks very similar to the axi one
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... h-morticer

Some allow for a different bush fitment so you can use the better quality chisels rather than just the cheaper 3/4'' ones.

Yes I did see the Axminster, on close inspection they are clones apart from some minor cosmetic changes, handles etc. The spec also is the same with the exception of the Axminster capacity being 16mm in both hard and soft wood & the Rutlands 13 & 16mm although both appear to have the same motor. Axminster has 3 year warranty not sure the extra warranty is worth the extra money as there is little to go wrong with this type of machine.

regards,

Keith

 

[dkaardal]

I just ordered one a few minutes ago, so I can let you know what I think of it once it arrives.

I use mortises a LOT in my woodworking, and I miss my old floor standing one back in Canada. I've poked around online to find out where to get high-quality chisels, and thus far I've seen 'Maverick' and 'NH' brands that look like they might be ok.

I'd expect to pay £30-£40 for a good mortising chisel, so I tend to limit myself to the couple of sizes I need - but getting good ones is critical. Also knowing how to install them is kinda important too, since burning a bit is an expensive kind of suckery.

I expect I'll need to get a bushing made up to adapt the machine to be able to use 5/8" shanked chisels, but that's usually not to difficult.

 

[Hemsby]

I just ordered one a few minutes ago, so I can let you know what I think of it once it arrives.

I use mortises a LOT in my woodworking, and I miss my old floor standing one back in Canada. I've poked around online to find out where to get high-quality chisels, and thus far I've seen 'Maverick' and 'NH' brands that look like they might be ok.

I'd expect to pay £30-£40 for a good mortising chisel, so I tend to limit myself to the couple of sizes I need - but getting good ones is critical. Also knowing how to install them is kinda important too, since burning a bit is an expensive kind of suckery.

I expect I'll need to get a bushing made up to adapt the machine to be able to use 5/8" shanked chisels, but that's usually not to difficult.

Where did you place the order?

Cheers

 

[dkaardal]

Sorry for the delay - I bought the Rutlands one. It should arrive today, so I'll be able to at least let you know what the fit and finish looks like.

 

[Hemsby]

Sorry for the delay - I bought the Rutlands one. It should arrive today, so I'll be able to at least let you know what the fit and finish looks like.

No problem. I would have liked to have waited to see your review first but I took advantage of the extra 15% discount =D> and ordered, was only £161 including the riser plate & delivery. Will be a couple of days before mine arrives .

Regards

Keith

 

[dkaardal]

Yeah, it was hard to pass up at that price. I got the riser plate as well - and I had another £20 off from some loyalty points I'd forgotten about.

As long as runout isn't a problem and the sliding tables can be trued up, I'll be happy.

 

[dkaardal]

Unboxed it last night, and it looks like a reasonable machine for the price. I didn't get a chance to adjust the tables, but it looks like it might not be too bad. I've certainly seen worse.

A few first impressions - Part No. DK2096



reasonably smooth table movement - table movement is just one gear meeting another, but it doesn't feel bad. I don't think they fitted enough gib screws for the tables (default seems to be 2), but I've not adjusted them yet so it might be just fine. The ways are smoother then I'd expected, considering the price.

Colour isn't bad - kinda looks like Delta grey.

they used crappy paint - flakes around the edges were coming off even before I took it out of the box.

strange choice in movement wheels - the forward/back wheel is just a large knurled knob, and the side-to-side one uses a removable handle. I'd have preferred to see normal wheels with rotating handles, but I guess they thought the unit would be too compact for them. If I find it too annoying I can just fit my own wheels to them.

Slightly damaged in transit - nothing serious this time, just a bent bolt which I can find a replacement for. Better then some other things I've ordered from Rutlands at any rate.

I put it together last night, but I didn't get a chance to put any real time into it. I tried to install the riser block, but was having issues with the fit of it so I just left it off until I can take a closer look. I will say that it appears that the riser block is going to limit backwards movement of the table though. Once I've got it all together and tweaked properly, I'll take a good look at the riser and see what impact installing it will have.

Axminster has a 13/16" to 3/4" chisel adapter, which will give me a little more leeway on what chisels I can use. I plan to order some N/H Mortice chisels and bits (Japanese) and put this thing through its paces over the next week or so.

Once I've adjusted the machine and fired it up I'll post an update to this. I'll probably wait until I get the new chisels though, since cheap chisels tend to make you want to throw things out of windows.

dak.

 

[Hemsby]

Unboxed it last night, and it looks like a reasonable machine for the price. I didn't get a chance to adjust the tables, but it looks like it might not be too bad. I've certainly seen worse.

A few first impressions - Part No. DK2096



reasonably smooth table movement - table movement is just one gear meeting another, but it doesn't feel bad. I don't think they fitted enough gib screws for the tables (default seems to be 2), but I've not adjusted them yet so it might be just fine. The ways are smoother then I'd expected, considering the price.

Colour isn't bad - kinda looks like Delta grey.

they used crappy paint - flakes around the edges were coming off even before I took it out of the box.

strange choice in movement wheels - the forward/back wheel is just a large knurled knob, and the side-to-side one uses a removable handle. I'd have preferred to see normal wheels with rotating handles, but I guess they thought the unit would be too compact for them. If I find it too annoying I can just fit my own wheels to them.

Slightly damaged in transit - nothing serious this time, just a bent bolt which I can find a replacement for. Better then some other things I've ordered from Rutlands at any rate.

I put it together last night, but I didn't get a chance to put any real time into it. I tried to install the riser block, but was having issues with the fit of it so I just left it off until I can take a closer look. I will say that it appears that the riser block is going to limit backwards movement of the table though. Once I've got it all together and tweaked properly, I'll take a good look at the riser and see what impact installing it will have.

Axminster has a 13/16" to 3/4" chisel adapter, which will give me a little more leeway on what chisels I can use. I plan to order some N/H Mortice chisels and bits (Japanese) and put this thing through its paces over the next week or so.

Once I've adjusted the machine and fired it up I'll post an update to this. I'll probably wait until I get the new chisels though, since cheap chisels tend to make you want to throw things out of windows.

dak.

Hi Dak

Mine arrived a few moments ago, As I am still in my dressing gown, it is still in its boxes :lol: .
Will take a look in a while and see what mine is like

Regards

Keith

 

[Hemsby]

Hi,

RUTLANDS BENCH MORTICER

Assembly was very easy no instructions necessary. Generally the machine quality for the money seems to be good. As expected the slidways needed some adjustment, in fact I removed the cross slide assembly completely and found the Gib strip was just a piece of un machined cast iron but soon gave that a file and lapped it on a diamond block re assembled & adjusted, now works fine.

Motor is very quiet. The chuck runs true and the ground table & backrest are square to each other, the table is perfectly square in both directions to the vertical travel of the chisel.

The only real criticism of the machine is the longitudinal table lever when it is moved left & right it can clash with the cross slide knob and the lever has to be re positioned. This would have been easy to correct during manufacture by simply extending the longitudinal lever shaft 2 inches. Could also have a retrofit extension fitted quite easily.

The chisel supplied :-x :-x :-x :-x :-x I think it re defines the word “Bad” could not believe they bothered sending it out especially with a protective sleeve the burr on each side of the chisel was nearly as thick as the chisel, sight exaggeration but it was big, the auger looked as though it had been used for drilling concrete, not an exaggeration.

As my own chisels had not arrived I gave the “supplied” one a quick touch up and tried it on a piece of soft wood I must say that considering the chisel I was surprised how easy and well the machine performed.

My conclusion is for the £161.42 I paid including a riser block it will suit my requirements very well.

 

[Hemsby]

Unboxed it last night, and it looks like a reasonable machine for the price. I didn't get a chance to adjust the tables, but it looks like it might not be too bad. I've certainly seen worse.

A few first impressions - Part No. DK2096



reasonably smooth table movement - table movement is just one gear meeting another, but it doesn't feel bad. I don't think they fitted enough gib screws for the tables (default seems to be 2), but I've not adjusted them yet so it might be just fine. The ways are smoother then I'd expected, considering the price.

Colour isn't bad - kinda looks like Delta grey.

they used crappy paint - flakes around the edges were coming off even before I took it out of the box.

strange choice in movement wheels - the forward/back wheel is just a large knurled knob, and the side-to-side one uses a removable handle. I'd have preferred to see normal wheels with rotating handles, but I guess they thought the unit would be too compact for them. If I find it too annoying I can just fit my own wheels to them.

Slightly damaged in transit - nothing serious this time, just a bent bolt which I can find a replacement for. Better then some other things I've ordered from Rutlands at any rate.

I put it together last night, but I didn't get a chance to put any real time into it. I tried to install the riser block, but was having issues with the fit of it so I just left it off until I can take a closer look. I will say that it appears that the riser block is going to limit backwards movement of the table though. Once I've got it all together and tweaked properly, I'll take a good look at the riser and see what impact installing it will have.

Axminster has a 13/16" to 3/4" chisel adapter, which will give me a little more leeway on what chisels I can use. I plan to order some N/H Mortice chisels and bits (Japanese) and put this thing through its paces over the next week or so.

Once I've adjusted the machine and fired it up I'll post an update to this. I'll probably wait until I get the new chisels though, since cheap chisels tend to make you want to throw things out of windows.

dak.

Hi Dak

Mine arrived a few moments ago, As I am still in my dressing gown, it is still in its boxes :lol: .
Will take a look in a while and see what mine is like

Regards

Keith

Hi,

Mine has 2 gib screws on the vertical travel but 3 on each of the table gib's !!

regards
Keith

 

[dkaardal]

Interesting. I'll double check tonight, but I believe mine only had 3 on the long axis of the table.

 

[Hemsby]

Interesting. I'll double check tonight, but I believe mine only had 3 on the long axis of the table.

Just noticed although I have 3 on the cross slide there is no locking screw, is yours perhaps 2 gib screws & 1 locking :-k